As the season draws to a close, the time is coming for many young players at the Paris Saint-Germain academy to make some decisions. Talented youngsters who, for the most part, are likely to leave the French capital club in the coming months.
Starting with Mathis Jangéal (17) who, as reported by L’Équipe, is expected to turn down the professional contract offered by the club’s management. Having made two appearances for Luis Enrique’s side this season, the attacking midfielder is therefore unlikely to continue his journey with his youth club next season.
Which should also be the case for Aymen Assab (17), whose future appears to lie with AS Monaco. Hermann Malonga (18) and Rayan Abo El Nay (18) are also close to leaving. Pierre Mounguengue (18), who has yet to decide on his future, could follow suit.
Why do young talents want to leave PSG?
A mass exodus that can largely be explained by the difficulty young players face in securing a place in the first team, where spots are extremely hard to come by. While several “Titis”, such as Warren Zaïre-Emery (20), Ibrahim Mbaye (18) and Senny Mayulu (19), have established themselves as regulars, or even first-team starters, few can claim to have followed the same path.
And although several players, such as Quentin Ndanjou (18) and David Boly (17), have been promoted to the first team this season, their playing time remains limited, at an age when many are just waiting for the chance to play.
“We’re the European champions, and four players from the academy have made their debuts this year. The pathway (to the first team) is there; it’s very close,” defends Yohan Cabaye, the academy’s sporting director. “The professional side keeps a close eye on the academy. It’s up to them to think things through and really understand what they want for their future. At other clubs, it’s not easy to break into the first team either. We create the best possible platform for them to continue developing in a demanding environment.”
